Our life living off the land in our log cabin, breathing fresh mountain air, and getting back to basics.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Pickled Ramps, Chicago Style

I found this recipe for Chicago style pickled ramps by Chef Rick Gresh. The pickling juice's sweet and tangy essence filled the cabin while it was cooking...it smelled so good! I can't wait to try them, but we have to let the ramps pickle in the juice for at least 5 days. Based on the smell, I'm sure our patience will be rewarded!

Clean the ramps(click on the link to read more about cleaning them) and separate the bulbs from the greens. Combine all the ingredients in a pot and (except the ramps)...

...and bring to a boil, then set the pan aside to allow the mixture to cool.

Blanch the ramps in a pot of boiling water for about 20
seconds, then immediately pour them into a colander and run cold water over
them to stop the cooking process. Pat them dry and place them into a sterilized mason jar.

Pour the cooled pickling liquid into the jar, covering all the ramps. Seal the jar with the lid and place it into the refrigerator (these need to stay stored in the fridge).

Refrigerate for at least 5 days before using. They will last for months as long as you store them in the fridge.

By the way, Mountain Man has returned from his camping trip (he's a happy camper, LOL) with about 5 pounds of fresh trout...guess what we're having for supper! He had a great time and has lots of stories to share, but he's happy to be home. I'm glad he's home too, but I sure did enjoy my alone time!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

About Me

There are moments in life when you are reminded of how precious every moment is, and how important it is to love what you live. A favorite quote by Mark Twain “twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones that you did” was posted in my office. Following several undesirable events occurring in my life recently, most significantly my younger brother passing away unexpectedly, I knew it was time to “sail away from the safe harbor” (more of the same quote).
So my retired husband (best friend/confidant/Mountain Man) and I decided we wanted to go to the place we loved most, our log cabin in the Smoky Mountains, and “live off the land”. Time to…Simplify…Explore…Appreciate…Discover…Learn… Grow…
So I resigned from my job and here we are. I am recording the adventure in this blog. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I know I will.